IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


73  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

W.ittSTE^,  N.Y.  14SB0 

{^^f>,  873-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag6e 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculie 


|~~|    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ol<  4e  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mals,  iorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires: 


L'institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
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point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


^ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 


□   Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurAes  et/ou  pelliculies 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6coior6es,  tachet^es  ou  piqu6es 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 


Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  in6gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplAmentaire 


I — I    Only  edition  available/ 


Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc..  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieilement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure, 
etc..  ont  6tA  filmAes  6  nouveau  de  fa9on  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

3 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


ails 

du 

difier 

jne 

lage 


Th«  copy  filmsd  hor«  haa  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  grAca  A  la 
ginArositA  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Las  imagas  suivcntas  ont  AtA  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin.  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattati  da  l'axamplaira  filmA,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cuver  when  approFnata.  All 
other  original  copias  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  dnding  on  tha  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  or  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  ur  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim6e  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  pur  la 
darniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suiyants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frumes  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrant  la  mAthode. 


rrata 
o 


lalure. 


□ 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

2f 


SPEECH 


OF   THE 


HON.  Y/M.  SAWYER,  OF  OHIO, 


o  n  T  H  E 


OK  EG  ON    QUESTION. 


D  E  L  I  V  E  R  P:  D 


i 

^  IN    THE    HOUSE    OF   REPRESENTATIVES, 


FEBRUARY    3,    1S40. 


WASHINGTON: 

PRINTED  AT  THE   UNION  OFFICE 

.1846. 


■OHwii  Hiij-ww.«»i 


»—        --    .K    ...     »  »■      .    ^A,  ^n      < 


5 1  ^> ) 


111 


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SPEECH. 


in  the  resclution  gixing  ih:  twelve  months^  notice  for  the  teriniuatioyi   of  /he 
J  jo'tni  occupancy  of  the  Oregon  territonj. 


Sir.   SAWYER  obtained   '.he  floor,  and,  havinj^  | 
ft  his  usual   seat  at   the  right  of  the  Speaktr,  and 
OSscd   over,   taking   an   unoccupied    place  at  tlie  | 
peaker'?i   Uft,   which  is  the  whig   portion  of  the  : 
[ouac,  he  addressed  tlie  committee.  ! 

I  have  come,  Mr.  Chairman,  to  locate  myself  over 
3re  in  British  Oregon.     If  you  v/ill  fancy  the  Co- 
mbia  river  passing  down  tlie  main  aisle,  you  will 
aserve    I  tnke   my  stand  on  the  north  side  of  that 
ver,  right  in  the  centre  of  the    British  .settlements; 
id  here  1  [ilant   myself  under  the   coi/jlitution  and 
w«of  my  country,  and     f^re  1  intend  to  remain  re-j 
irdleps   of  consequence:       I  discover,  Mr.  Chair- : 
an,  that  a  good  many  of  n     settlers  here  have  dis- 1 
irsed,   (referring   to    sever,     vacant  seat-s  around! 
m,)  v.'hich  i  conceive  to   be  a  good   sign — an  cvi- 
ince  of  a   consciousness  of  a  want  of  sound  title. 
hey  have  gone   away   and   vacated  these  farms,  ] 
id  In  the  name  of  my  country  1    take  pos.sesson  of; 
em,  iiiul  1   intend    to   keep   po.s.^ession.     I    wi.sh, 
ei^l  to  be  di.?tinctly  understood  to   adsert  our  right  I 
tfiK  whole  of  Oregon  up  to  .")4-  40':  and  I  am  not 
illing  to  relinquish  cne  iota  of  it.     My  reasons  for 
i«  claim   are  not   based    upon  any  turmai  treaty 
piilations  whatever.     It  is   a  right  founded  upon 
"igher  authority  than  any  human  compni't. 
le  gentleman  fiom  Mnssachusett.s,  [Mr.   Win-; 
,1  wIh)  .spoke  in  the  early  part  of  this  debate,  | 
very  .significantly   where    we  find    our  title  to  I 
rritory,  and    whether  u  may  not  lie  found  in  i 
[corner  of  Adam'i  will  •     No;  it  ihitcs  further  \ 
cl6#i-long  before   Adam's  dust   was  tashiond  into  i 
in\"our  title  dates  with  tlie  creation  of  the  world, 
'e  received  it  from  high  lleaveH — from  destiny,  if' 
'U  please.     In   the   course  of  events,  in  the  prog- 1 
m  and  consummalion  of  this  destiny,  Christopher- 
ilumbus   was  sent   across   the  ocean   to  examine  i 
is  country,  and  he  found  that  it  was  good  for  man 
dwell  ufion.  By-and-by,  our  father.^  followed  and 
)k  possession ;    here   they    established    the    seat 
empire;  here  they  sowed  the  seeds  of  democracy, 
ii<A  sprang   up  and   brought  forth   abundance  of 
ceUfent  fruit.     But  the  prosperity  of  this  country 
intxcited  the  jealousy  and  fears  of  another  peo- 
!,  and  they  sent  armies  to  subjugate   it  to  their 
n    will  and  control.     Then  arose  one  George 
aahington,  who  drove  the  invaders  iVom  the  land, 
i    located    his    lainily  upon  it.     Columbua  and 


Wa<;hington  were  but  the.  nsents  Heaven  employed 
to  place  us  111  po.sses.sion  of  our  own.  This  is  our 
claim  of  title,  and  lean  see  no  defect  in  it.  Icon- 
tend  it  is  good  and  sufficient  against  all  other  claim- 
ants. This  island — or,  if  you  prefer  to  call  it  so, 
this  continent — was  made  and  set  apart  for  our  es- 
pecial benefit.  We  have  a  right  to  every  inch  of  it, 
and  It  would  be  ingratitude  to  high  Heaven  to  sur- 
render a  single  pebble. 

I  have  been  trying  for  two  or  three  weeks  past 
occasionally  to  get  the  floor,  but,  being  a  modest  man, 
I  do  not  like  to  enter  into  the  contest  wifh  so  murh 
noise  and  clatter  as  I  see  sometimes  employcu  to  ob- 
tain this  iloor:  other  causes,  too,  have  operated  to 
exclude  me.  One  of  them  is  this  system  of  explain- 
ing speeches  who.se  meaning  is  so  uncertain  that 
these  commentaries  seem  to  be  in  continued  demand; 
thus  the  morning  hour  is  consumed  in  petty  crimin- 
ation iind  recrimination.  I  do  not  expect  to  con- 
sume my  hour,  and  1  liavc  tried  for  the  last  two 
or   three  days  to  get  the    'lour  to  move  that  a  half 

"lov/ed  to  gentlemen  v.ho 


Hour  only  hereafter  be 
speak  on  this  cpicstion.  Well,  I  hope  this  may  be 
propo.^ed  hercat'ter  and  adopted,  as  I  discover  there 
are  certain  other  qualitie.j  besides  talents  requisite  to 
get  the  floor  and  to  obtain  ascendency  in  this  House. 

(Mere  Mr.  S.  was  interrupted  by  .some  one  ask- 
ing what  other  qualities  he  meant .'  To  which  Mr. 
H.  replied,  iinpuiltnrf.'] 

I  may  be  compelhd,  Mr.  Chairman,  from  the  ne- 
cessity of  the  case,  aff^r  1  have  been  here  a  while, 
to  adont  the  same  course  which  I  see  here  pursited 
with  so  much  .-success.  I  have  a  constituency  C3 
independent  i\s  1  profess  to  be,  and  they  expect  me 
to  have  my  right.s,  and  I  will  have  them,  even  though 
I  should  have  to  .stoop  to  an  imitation  of  the  exam- 
ple set  by  some  gentlemen  in  their  efforts  to  be 
neard. 

There  are  divers  ways  now  proposed  by  gentle- 
men on  this  floor,  whereby  the  Oregon  question 
may  be  settled.  Of  some  of^ these  I  will  speak  here- 
after. 1  Will  not  undertake  to  argue  the  constitutional 
question,  because  certain  gentlemen  might  say,  as 
was  said  in  olden  times,  that  a  blacksmith  was  not 
a  proper  person  to  mend  watches,  and  a  farmer  had 
no  business  to  lay  his  huge  paws  on  the  statute- 
book.  For  this  reason,  and  for  the  more  substantial 
reason,  that  it  appears  already  to  have  received  the 


JUiJ 


f..;lv?3l  ciucidntion  from  powrrfL,!  aiiJ  conifictiMit 
iri;n(Js,  i  shnll  say  notli!i:;j;  upon  ihid  p.u-t  of  the 
question.  I  shnll,  tliereforf^,  nminly  confiijc  ny'''elf 
to  replies  to  fjertlemen  ulio  hiiveeapoused  the  Brit- 
ish caupc  in  this  dispute. 

The  vord  "wi\r"  haa  been  dv.  (ilt  upon  in  ail  its 
korrib'e  phiisca,  witii  s;rcat  emphabi^  and  eloquence, 
I)]''  rertaiii  gentlemen,  until  i.r.any  necm  to  he  fri|; lit- 
er ly-i  fioin  a  performance  of  thi.'ir  iluty  by  the 
•'■jrirr.  visaged"  picture.  VVhcther  these  {jcntlemen 
are  [)ror.ipted  hy  cowardice  or  seifislujess  in  their 
der.unciationa  I  am  not  ab!;;  to  say,  nor  do  I  con- 
ceive itto  be  very  importar.t.  isi;ither  n.otivc-.T  aufli- 
C.'iDily  detestable  in  itself.  But  neither  shall  l.ave 
any  vv.?i;!;ht  with  me  in  the  :irgnnienLs  vvhicii  1  ishall 
uj'*,  nor  in  the  conclusior  to  which  I  :-liarl  come. 
I  do  not  c:ire  one  cent  whcir.cr  EngKiiid  declan-  war 
af^Ui.'^.st  u.s  or  not;  no,  r.ot  ori»  cent.  I  believe  we 
are  right,  ami  that  is  cnoi:gh  to  govern  r.iy  action. 
Ilo'l.  no  furliier.  If  evils  grow  out  of  a  .turdy 
r'lirtei'.ance  of  our  rii^htri,  Miea  let  them  fall  upon 
tbe  fji'ty  headsl  Hoiie!.:t,  democrao:  have  nohiri^ 
to  f3ar  from  llii.s  nialedictioi! 

The  ijontleman  from  Vir^'inia,  jAIr  LiEAiii;,]  who 
occ^^pied  tiie  floor  this  mornuiir,  takes  lo  l.\r.k  vome 
oftho  genllemf'u  of  the  democratic  juirty,  who  huvc 
heretofore  advocated  the  policy  of  ajiving  the  notice, 
for  ib'-'ir  votes  on  this  quesiion  ii  ih.e  latst  oe;:-;ion  of 
Cor'5Te?R,  and  arciif-'Ci  ilu'ti;    of  inconsistericy — ibr- 

iiat    tntiJiful    (i!,l     aiiage,. 


j;.-".;?!;?:,   it  would  seem, 
"C..-ci.m,si:\nce.-;ai:e:case!:' 


I  Vilun. 


.•;  to  sl',ov,' 


yiV!  ard  th^t  p-cntlemiiti  how  ii  is,  and    xhy  ;t  v/aJ, 
thac  they  voti-d  against  thiei   measiire  at   thi'.r   tune; 
I'i  t  siiali  d'»  it   [)v  ouolir.g  iV-^m   the  SfiPe' h  ot  th.i- 


<;.?,•;  t'loman  Jrom   r.la;  :^achr,s;;f.t.5,   "Mr 


V 


part 
•I 


of 


ii- 


israr.:!;',; 

ieb  rc>      Th.;' 

ar-rumcnts  herein    aUiliui';!  api. mi-    to    Imve    btcii 

thu-o  wliirh.  s^'OVLrncd  tliC  .•ctioo  of  <.'ci:f<;re'^.-  at  tliaf. 


■')  spoke  in  the  early 
herein    addi 


■Mr  Wi'bBtcrhils  .,'.(?.•.(  laiirrs<vve  tliu  ik-jcp  of  (he  coin 
try  by  at'atinj;sorn-thin!»  of  our  extreme  territori:il  cl.iiii. 
oil  tbo  northeiist.  unit  he  Ikib  LMrnccJ  the  gralitutlc  of  all  goo 
citi:cn.s  in  doing  bo   ' 

1  rather  suspect,  sir,  that  the  people  of  Main 
will  not  desire  to  earn  thf.  epithet  of  "good  citizens 
by  cherishing  grateful  leelings  for  this  abatement  c 
their  "extreme  territorial  claims."  There  is  to 
much  patriotism  in  thtir  hearts  to  feel  grateful  Ui 
this  surrender  of  their  soil  and  rights.  Such  a  sent 
mentis  foreign  to  that  love  of  country  and  of  justi' 
HO  characteristic  of  tiie  American  heart,  and  is  d; 
gradingand  disgrajeful  to  the  American  name. 

But,  Mr.  ChairnK'ii,  the  arguments  which  we 
all-pow?i'fn.!  at  the  last  session  of  Gongres.j  a, 
not  ijo  nov;  circumstances  have  changed  ai, 
with  thin  cha'.ige,  the  whole  asfiect  ol  l!i 
question.  Then  tticre  •-/aa  a  possibility,  a  re 
sonable  hope,  (hat  this  question  could  be  amic:di 
settled  by  negotiation.  Now  we  liave  t!:e  mes.^iii; 
of  the  President  of  tl'.c  United  States,  and  v,c  hit. 
the  correspondence  betvkccn  j\'Ir.  Duchanai>,ar,d  N: 
Calhoun,  and  li:e  Critiyh  mini.ster  or.  this  .-subjc 
a;id  from  there  ai.'.th.etitic  -lOur*.  ^s  we  learn  that 
furtiier  uegotiaLions  will  be  liad  in  relation  to  tl 
matter.  They  '.lave  long  since  ceased;  and  we  , 
now  fully  ijonvii!ce!j  that  nothing  can  Ijo  cxper; 
from  that  mode  f^f  udiioiirieiit.  How,  then,  stai 
the  case'  what  course  does  it  now  become  nccesf,- 
for  us  to  pursue.'  1  c.n:  .•'te  but  one  whicii  i-  !il. 
to  secure  the  desired  end.  W'ly,  even  these  v; 
gentlemen  wh.o  ojinnse  the  passage  of  th.iP  i*c:u 
lion  witli  si>  much  rteal  and  furv,ar.'j  willing  th'it 
should  t.ike  {)0.ss-cs.<ion  i;p  to  4l"-^;  and  yet  ti'.ev 
afi.iid  of  war  if  v/e  give  the  notice.  Weil,  I 
:his  :|  leijtion  to  ti.o  g--^iit!(;niar.  '.Vcni  Virgiria,  I" 
n.-iVLv.]  wl;o  spokv  a  i'tw  day:-;  -igo,  and  v.. 
r-oeecii    has   been    tho  subrect  o'";mui:1.  .■.cvcro  c 


(nMllion 


i;: 


tl 


a 


•id  '.vh.oihcr  tlie  ;:-e(infi  :'^y.   pr.'-ed  lliem   cor 


hail 


[lo 


:u; 


re  t  or  not,  as  tames  thrn  were,  i,-, 


ry  i;p[)ear  to  i.,'ivo 

icncc  ..lulgi'ci!  ;ii'i'-y:  ,i..-.l  ri'i.^t 
■  f)0;  t  ijf  oft'uir:.  at  that 
these  gentiei-.'.'U  Wirrail').'  'ustiSabie 
(■,;)■.: --.o  tliey  then  purs'.i.td;  *'..'.  lo  rhe  r:<tr;.''t 
g'.wllctuan  whom  I  quote  rn-o(e;:tlu  lo  ray 

vJ.fir.  this  ',i  ho'ii'   ['ro''"f)ii' 


bo;'  di  Mated  by  I'rudi: 


ti;; 


the 


ir, 


'.ir    Ki 


I'l  .:4;mi-nt 


enii'ii'iitl)  calotiialcd  to  .iiipclf  ...i  i  ,  i,ih;iiin  ■.;  tl.c  luvjuti:.- 
t.  ir.  .11  V.  liifji  t'licl  wo '^o'.  er;iM'<':it;,  arc  ciiii  !o\  o'-l  \^'r  'lu'f 
If.  'i\>-l  riiillHtntic  assur.iii.'.'c.'N  i(vit  these  rif' jol.iituins  V.ive 
uo'.  ji't  .'.lili'd;  th:il  they  are  Klill  ir>  lll•l1l;r^^•.•^  .uul  tliut  a  co.ii- 
m.'.n'i'nlioi' ill  re,>.,Mril  to  tliem  !n,i_\  '.t?  -  \(.ci.'li'(l  liom  tl.e 
l'.;<'-'ru'ivi' lief'ire  tlie  cloie  <.)!  ''w  i'i'r.'>fiit  i-H,.,',ii>i'.  \('li) 
rot  V.  ill  lor  this  iomrrnn!ir:itio;i  '  U  li_\  r.:.'.i«t  oit  tjkiiig  .'ii!> 
;Urii  ii!  'lie  il.rli  N'.lui.  a;  ..  v,.  i>  ■■''\:-  it  llic  ino;il.  ■•.  .■ 
sli;)'.l  III-  nlile  to  net  mlvi.-i-iliN  ;iii.l  h)  .  ee  cj'irly  tli'.-  )^''0uu^l 
0.1  •.  liirh  wc  HTL' trei.diii)^  " 

That,  sir,  was  the  reason  urged  iheu  by  that  gen- 
tlei'ian,andby  several  others,  V'hy  we  sliould  iDtgive 
the  notice,  and  j)roceed  to  e.xtetid  our  aws  and  in- 
nt.*.(;lions  fully  over  ti:e  whole  territory — l)'>oau6e 
negol  :\tions  were  going  on,  and  t'Ccausc.'  n  new 
Pe.sdent  had  just  Ixen  ciected  in  wiiom  the  people 
Krt.i  fi'.;  confidence,  and  to  whom  oven  they  kneu 
t,' '.5  business  cmild  be  .laftly  eniruPtedt  arid  tiialit 
v  I.*  !yul  a  mark  of  respect  to  a'lovv  hini  to  [m/siic 
l.tei":*  negotiations  further,  in  the  nope  that  it  were 
T>o.ss:b!e  ho.  might  bring  r.ien  ui  a  f:iv(u  vble  termi- 
r.at;oc..  And  with  thin  View  m.iny  persons  \'oipd 
against  taking  any  steps  which  might  tlu'ow  diffi- 
culties in  the  way  of  the  pending  negoiiaiions      A 

passes    a 


le  fur; Ik  r    on    this    satne   gentlenutn 


ei.logy  upon  a  certni;'   di.-ungui:-hed  'iiihv.dial,  now 
it  :!  .' other  brorch  of  o'lr  naiiona'  l.'gi..lati.ip: 


ci.-M   u;    tiiUi   i.aii.     IlO   i;t  wi'img   to   .yiistam 
ciatiii.''  wp  to  ii''',  anil  to  piiL-.i  the  I'otice  to  th-ii 
feet.     Nov.',  .ct  ir.c  .;;.'c  him,  wiier.';  ia    t.':o  olTer 
Great  BiUiiin  fo   a.-.-.ciit    to  th.is  compromise' 
ha.;,  never  n'.ade  any  ..Heroftlic  Ici'id.  biit  h;.! 
f.)t:;jly  refu'-td  to  accc'c  lo  ■•i.'cii  a  •oiop'ioitiori.   ' 
Ui-.yv  ullered  40'"^,  but  she  refused  it.     And  yet  ;, 
liemei:,  wiio  rre  so  easiiy  iilar'ned  at  the  rirospfc 
v.ar  il'we  sh.onid  isscrl  our  jo«t  ch'jn'.s  to  ti.j  v, 
of  Oregon,  are  wi'hi.g   t  j   enforce  thnn  to  a  p'l 
as  oiistinately  cl;iir.i':d  by  England  as  th.  jt    r:<i!' 
the    4!)th   deg-ee.     It  np|)eais,  tiien.  that  thei-e  t 
tleuicn  are  willi.^g  lo  endanger  the  peace  of  t!:c 
countries  for  a  small  p'.ff.ion  'if  the  territory,  v 
tl'.<'  lakiog  |)' .■.Sf;- ;.iou  of  the  whole  louid  produc 
vvorse   conse'iuei.cfs.     I   ei)etet)d    taat    wet^n 
well  fight  for  a  wliole  loaf  as  a  crumb.     It  v 
aeem,  then,  that  those  gcntlemenVt  oidv  object 
"abate  aomethhvg  of  our  extreme   territorial  <: 
on  the  northwest,"  and  therefore  confine  in  is 
row  limits  aa  povvible  the  action  of  oui-  glorioi." 
stitutions. 

[Mr.  Ll.vkl  wa^  understood  to  say  that  lip 
not  tor  the  notice,  whether  we  took  after  ;i  , 
49^"",  or  to  54"^  40'.  1 

Mr  Sawveh  coiUii.ued  Well,  some  of  thi' 
tlemen  have  been  iti  favor  of  t';\e  notice,  .'iid  f" 
suining  Jurisdiction  to  some  extent — willing  tc 
the  notice,  and  take  forcible  pos8ess.ion  up  to 
Does  not  the  san.e  difllcuity  al•i.^e  here  as  if  wv 
uptor.V^40'-  It  must,  or  else  vhc.  Jii'.ngh.sl 
back  out;  and  if  you  go  to  fighting  for  it  froii 
mouth  of  the  Coiunibia  to  vy^,  miglit  you  :: 
well  include  the  w::oic,  iuid  iigiu  for  it'     I  it< 


i  eiicou 
nd  (eiti 
tieir  id!( 
ire  go  n 
IJfheiiie 
40  bear 
leaving 
free  fron 
4in  aster 
ofour  o 
Har  by 
;pot  fear 
.-h;i 
inoM-.f 
l:ave  si 
t)jiu   lesi 
which,  s( 
t«ning  n 
«no;.,ei,i 


U|^ 


B 


lu  ))i'ucf'  of  Ibi'  coi. 
e  terrilori;il  diiiii. 
gMlituOc-  of  all  S'lf 

people  of  Mail! 
»f  ^'{^ooJ  citizens 

thia  aljatcmciil  ( 
."    There   is  to 

feel  grateful  i<> 
its.  Such  a  wni 
itry  and  of  just!' 

hLurt,  anil  19  d; 
erican  no.im?. 
lents   which  wt 

of  Congress  n- 

vc    changed,    m, 

ar-ifiect     ol     '!< 

io.i&il)i!ity,  a    '•<• 

-oald  be'aiinc;>li. 

have  l!;{'  iijessii; 
ilea,  and  we  hin 
;juchaiian,and  !V 
'1-   or.  this  .-lubip 
!  \v(.-  leani  tliat 
in  rt'!c\tioii  to  tl 
eased;  and  we  . 
!;  car.   be   cxpec; 
blow,  then,  stui 
/  become  ncce-"^?." 
me  whic.ii   i'  hi-- 
y,  eve:i  the'-e  \ 
■:-:i<;o  of  tl'.if  I'CM 

arc  williii;:;  iiiai 
'^:  and  ycl  ''■*'V 
au.:e.  Wcii,  I  , 
•cm  V:rA:!.;a.  i ' 
'/H  aja.  and  Vn 
>''  ;tuiCi.  .'.i.'vcie  '' 
[iti**  t('.)  SLi^itaiii 
le  I'o.'ice  to  tiv-ii 
lers  is    I'r.ii  ofl'cr 

coraprnniit'C' 

kind,  bilt  h:-.s 

a  puiP''"--;^'''"- 
d  it.     And  '-ct. 
>d  at.  t:."  ■:.M;;.|i'' 
C::.ii)'.s  to  t!.J  v. 
ce  thnn  to  a  p'l 
ud  js  tl'.  jt    r.ni' 
\QV..  that  thp;--p  i 
the  psaco  of  t!ic 
the  territory,  v 
)le  couid  produi.' 
id   tiutt   we  xv.w 
u  crumb.     It  v 
•n';i  oidy  object 
ne  territoria'  c. 
)te  coiiftiic  in  IS 
1  of  oui-  gloiioi." 

d  to  say  that  h" 
J   took  after  U  > 

ell,  i^on-.e  of  th<' 
e  notice,  ;'s\d  f" 
cteiit — willing  tc 
:is.'fCHS''.on  uji  tn 
i -c  here  as  if  v/c 
Ise  .he.  pnghsl 
:hlii)g  for  it  fioii 
'-5,  luight  yoa  r 
ht  for  it'     I  tr.'^ 


If  we  believe   the   co?;r.try  to  b.i   oiir.i,   letustakei 

Eosses.ion  of  it,  and  let  ua  defer.d  and  keep  it  at  all 
azards. 

Sir,  there  i.s  a  branch  of  the  .siib;.'3ct  I  sb.all  now 
proceed  to  notice,  and  which  i  think  worthy   of  at- 
tei  live  consideration.  The  gentleman  from  Virginia 
— tl.e  "lone  ;Jtar,"  (referring  to  Mr.  I'knuleton) — 
employs-  the  very  same  language  in  reference  to  the 
Ore'on  country  used  by  the  olu  fedeial  party  in  ita 
better  davi,  in  relation  to  otlier  nart.s  of  theciiuntry, 
which  have  now   become    t!ie  liome:^  of  pro.'»peroiis  | 
«>^.iliions — 1  mean   the  country' ju'duded  within  thej 
Louiriana   jiurclui.se,  now    fonfiing   the  flourishing! 
fifites  of  L'luisiana,   Missouri,   and  Arkansaf,  and  j 
Other  valuable  territory.     What   v\:i.^   tlicn  the  ob-j 
_jpttion   to   tlie  ae'iuisitiou   of  that   extensive  regioi;.' 
"AVI  V  it  was  then  said  it  \\;\s  worth  nothing,  as  the 
^e,:;ioirian  now  says  of  the  Oregon  territory. 

|Mr.  Pi.Koi.iiTON-  wa.s  understood  to  intjuire  by 
WiiOra  it  v.aa  said  that  the  Louibiana  j  urchase  was 
Voit!:  nofliingr) 

Mr.  S.\>.  Yi:u.  1  did  not  propose  to  go  into  a  full 
lii.-to;y  of  that    purchase.     I    merely  mention    this 


f<i';t  to  NJiow   i-.ow  much    old    fed.-ra!i.si;i  and  young 

!ii,e,  and  how    well  verged  in  the  ar- 

^.:ir  eats  ot  the  former   arc  the  fneiv.'..-i  of  the  latter. 


fe: 

!'.:ir;eats  of 
j..t  I  V  ill  teli  you  a  little  more  of  the  iangnagc  u.^^ed; 
^Ji  references  to  this  ;;re:!t   a!;d    important  mea.sure.' 
|c  was  t'aid    there     were   aliigator.s   enoagii   on  the 
iai  i  ti-i   :'ei-,i.,!;   i!,   aiid  that    the  land  itself  was  not 


.Svort!!  liaviiig.  Aed  the  gei;t!eiaan  now  tays  of 
l|),v..riiii  that  It  laiiot  v\.>.th  the  [>:iper  t'.j.on  whiih  the 
P'l::  !:<  priiiUd;  and  1  take  it  tha;  ihe  gciitiema:!  who 
,ii£e.',  li'e  ;:;aiiie  laiiguage  in  re'alion  to  OiCii:'..i  ter- 
^tilory  now.  '.rf/oiftr?  lo  //.J  lui'ic  ;'or/;,'  tliut  made  thisi 
Je  !a:.»ti'>n  in  rir'nricelo  the  Liouiti.uia  ;.urcl:;isc 
iiui  to  '..''; jri.la.  'i'lia!  wa^^  liie  langia\g.'.  u.'c.d  in 
iii.es  gone  by  iu  relation  to  th-:  li'-iitiisitioi)  of  valun- 
lle  ieiiilM-y:  iliat  is  ihc  la:".;uagc    used   now,  and  it 


ill  be  the  laviguag.i  used  by  tluit  p.'rty  whenever 
eattempi  to  erect;  new  o:at-.:  ,  or  organiz j  or  ae- 
uire  iiev.' tf  iiitorie.':-,  wheif-  ovv  frcLhf'ra  i.'on.i  can 
n;l  a  field  of  pioimsc  for  tlioir  iadu-Jry  and  enter-; 
rihe.  New  ui;,',tric.<:  are  the  natural  birth-|iiaccs  of 
toe  thoi.ti:!j:d  an  I  noble  sentiment:-;  hire,  tiiLre  is  no,  which  clie  iiad  mu  tiloiied  for 

i 


on  this  floor,  and  take  my  .stand  among  my  constit- 
uents to  light  for  my  own  fireside  and  my  country's 
rights.  I  .  tand  pledged  to  do  it,  and  1  will  do  it. 
It  matters  not  when  this  war  comes;  for  coi«e  it 
must,  if  .oil  give  the  British  possession  all  around 
us.  How  stands  tlie  case  now.-  Go  to  your  casttrn 
seaboard,  and  you  wiil  fu;d  lier  posaossions  all 
around  you;  and  she  is  now  trying  to  encircle  you 
on  the  west. 

In  this  manner  we  have  given  England  eveiy 
power  to  cri[iple  and  annoy  us;  and  it  is  our  own 
t'dult  that  she  now  enjoys  the..e  facilities.  She  is 
endeavoring  to  widen  her  possesjien.'^  and  strength- 
en her  [lower  at  those  very  [loints  which  will  render 
her  most  troublesome.  I  iiave  called  tiiis  continent 
an  island;  and,  ihoi'.gh  it  is  a  pretty  large  one,  we 
need  it  all,  and  must  have  it  Our  sal'ety  and  .secu- 
rity dc'.i.and  it;  our  interests  demand  it;  the  eauac 
of  humanity  demands  it;  and  the  growth  of  demo- 
cratic principles  demand  it;  and  these  demands 
sihall  and  must  be  complied  with.  Great  Uritain 
would  find  great  trouble  in  disturbing  us  three  tlioo- 
sand  milesoif — a.?,  iuhi.  •  proper  liiphcre,  sliei.s — ifshc 
|-,;\d  no  posses.^ii)!!-:  upon  this  little  island  of  our;.; 
but  having  .'?o  mar.y  j'.osbrssiojis  all  around  u.?,  and 
ill  our  immediate  iicighborh.>od,  she  lias  resting 
pl.'.ce^  where  slie  can  run  in  for  sujipiies,  refit  h:-i 
shijis,  and  even  luiild  tiicm.  She  can  thus  supply 
herself  with  all  the  n.e.\ns  necessary  to  a  [irotrai  ie;l 
and  (li.^a.'^trous  w^'r.  ,\.c  we  not,  tiien,  most  culpa- 
ble t'or  permitting  fruei;  ;i  state  of  thipg'..  to  eoiui.iu;  • 
Sli.ili  we  support  a  pol.cy  that  uiil  ultimately  ex- 
clude tlie  Uriiish  i'jwer  from  tlie  eiaitinent,  or  (ir.e 
th;:t  will  e:e'ou;"'..'re  !.er  to  extend  i;f  1  fear  that 
someircntlemen  are  willing  to  give  her  a  footing  on 
the  noriluvc.  t  co.ist,  ai:d  in  su''li  maniief  as  to  e.na- 
ble  hvr  to  give  us  great  trouble  !ipre;ifter,  by  adding 
immensely  to  her  prciont  great  mean;;  of  annoy- 
ance. A  ganlleiiian  from  Virgip.ia  [.Mr.  Pi-.Mn.t;- 
TOK-]  has  said  that  Grr;,t  r>ril;u;:  has  never  done  any 
wrorifr  or  injitry  to  this  country  wl;io'i  she  li:i;j  not 
repaired  or  apoh^gized  dr. 

Mr.  l*i;\D:.nTu:v.  1  did  not  .^ay  that.  I  muI  that 
Great  Ih'itrdn  ha.l  douj   no   i:;jiuy  to  this  country 


jiytophaD'y.  no  lia.se  eiingii^g  *  j  ."-ujicrior  wi  aiiii  or 
ower.     And  i  am  led  to  .suspi'Ct    that  the  Ktrongest 
Cai-ou,  thoui.li  not  openly    av.'Wf.d,  vi'hie.h  aeta.ites 
fteituia  genlhaneii  in  this  (jppositioii  to   the  meatmre 
OS."  under  lii^cn.ss.ion,  is   that    the  territory  in  rpies- 
ioi.  wiil  soil. I  form    a    little    g-laxy  of  democratic 
tute.').     All  our  .',ewS:ates  are  democratic,     it  well 
;cor>'s  with,  i);e  intrepid  spirit  of  the  t;uc  democrat 
eiicounier  and  comiuci  the  diiricultii.'s  wliich  new 
d  feitile  regions  present,  and  to  turn  to  usetulness 
eir  idle  rivers  and    tilumbering  soil.     AVell,   sir, 
Jregon  is  of  nmneiisc  value  to  ;'s,  and  it  inatter.s  not 
lirhetiier  we  fight  fur  it  now  or  hereafter.     I  jjrefer 
to  bear  a  portion  of  the    burden    myself.     I    prefer 
leaving  to  my  :hil(lren  and  posterity   a   clear  title, 
free  from  all   incumbrnnce;  and,  Mr.   Chairman,  if 
MXi  assertion  of  our  rights,  and  the  taking  posses.«ion 
©four  own,  <ue  to   be  followed    by  a  declaration  of 
»ar  by  England,   I,    for  one.  say  let    it  come.     I  do 
jBOt  fear  the  consenuences  of  u  \v,ir  with  that  power, 
d  rhall  myself  be  found  among  the  foremof  t  in  de-j 
nco  of  my  country,  not  in  v\ords  only  but  in  acts.' 
I.ave  .iiU(l,ai!d  1  now  repent  it,  that  1  will  vote  fori 
tliin   resoluiioii  even   should   it   have   the  tendency; 
whirl;  soiv.e  gMillemen  contend    it   will  ha.e  oflia.s-; 
teniiig  a  luptaie  with  Great   Britain;  and    the  very  | 
moh.ent  England  declares  war  I  will  rctigi:  my  se.vt 


vlr.  S.vwvKR  i;0iilinue.|,  tin  !  .sr,id    that  thi;;  was  a 


matter  of  veracity  betvreeii  him  aiid  the  gentleman 
from  Vir;;inia.  lie  said  that  Great  IJritain  lias  done 
no  injury  she  has  not  a'oned  for.  I  say  she  ha.s 
done  much  injury,  an  I  has  never  iitoned  for  it.  A 
loner  list  of  injuries  were  cliargul  in  the  declaration 
of  independence,  aiul  I  undertake  lo  say  that  these 
injuries  still  remain  unatone.l  for.  Many  of  the 
ehargfcH  brought  against  her  by  this  country  lieieto- 
fore  are  .itill  subjects  of  complaint  now.  Some  of 
these  matters  of  complaint  were  particularly  men- 
tioned the  other  day  by  my  colleague,  [Mr.  Tiiuu- 
M.\N,]  not  one  of  which  has  ever  been  atoned  for- 
He  spoke  of  tlie  burning  wf  the  Caroline;  but  I 
wish  to  cali  the  attention  of.this  House  to  another 
and  more  grievous  eharge-^to  wit:  that  the  Indian 
hostilitie.s  which  we  have  long  been  obliged  to  en- 
counter are  instigated  by  England.  Thousaiid.s  of 
pounds  every  year  are  appropriated  by  Great  Brit- 
ain for  largesses  for  the  Indians;  and  it  is  well  under- 
stood that  the  object  of  this  liberality  is  to  secure 
their  friendship  to  her.self,  and  to  incite  thern  to 
hostilities  against  the  people  of  the  United  States. 
Great  Britain  inake.>f  hcrannual  payments  to  the  In- 
diaiih  as  regularly  as  wc  make  upprnpriation.j  for 
the  support  of  our  government,  for  the  cxpre;;s|)ur- 
posc  of  securing  the  conliJciico   and  good'  will  of 


:he  Indians,  and  In  dnstroy  the  good  iindersfnndinf; 
which  would  othcrwiHe  exist  belwren  'hRin  and  up. 
Thi3  influence  thus  ohtained  over  th(!  Indiiins  is 
frequently  manifested  by  the  most  danuiiihle 
atrocities  committed  upon  our  people.  The 
endeavors  of  the  British  to  break  the  friend- 
ship between  the  Indians  and  the  peofile  of  this 
country  have  so  far  succeeded,  that  it  requires  a 
large  sum  annually  to  counteract  Ihi.s  base  inihi- 
ence,  and  to  secure  our  peace  with  them.  Beintr  I 
myself  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Indian  Af- 
fairs, I  have  taken  some  pains  to  ascertain  the  fads, 
and  I  find  that  British  interference  in  this  matter 
costs  us  about  one  million  of  dollars  annually  Cur 
frontiers  have  long  been  exposed  to  the  most  cruel 
outrages,  where  men,  women,  and  chil''ren  have 
BuflTercd,  not  only  by  being  made  captives,  but  by 
being  given  up  to  savage  torture  and  nuird-'r.  The 
British  officers  themselves,  after  the  battle  of  the 
River  Raisin,  were  compelled  by  the  Indians  to  sur- 
render American  citizens  to  the  demands  of  .savfl<;e 
fury,  to  be  tortured,  and  finally  burnt  at  the  stake; 
and  thif,  sir,  was  never  atoned  for;  and  I  wiil  tell 
you,  sir,  that  the  American  people  will  never  rest 
satisfied,  after  these  inhumanities,  until  they  have  a 
chance  to  "draw  a  bead"  upon  such  foes.  I  may, 
perhaps,  feel  more  sensibly  on  tills  point,  when  I 
consider  the  wrongs  and  injuries  whicl'.  niy  fallier 
suffered  while  a  prisoner  to  the  British  and  iiidi.ins 
during  the  late  war.  It  was  owing  to  the  inhuman 
treatment  which  he  received  at  the  hands  of  his 
captors,  that  he  is  now  n  cripple,  and  unable  to  pur- 
sue any  of  the  ordinary  vocations  of  life.  His 
whole  life  from  that  period  to  the  present  time  has 
been  one  of  constant  bodily  sufTering;  night  brings 
him  no  'relief,  day  dawns  u[)on  no  hope.  I  swear 
by  the  Eternal  G()d,  that  if  my  life  i.<  spared,  and 
opportunities  occur,  I  will  make  an  I^ni^lishman's 
life  |iay  for  every  hour  of  suffering  which  iny  father 
has  endured  at  their  liands!  I  myself  am  deter- 
mined, my  constituents  are  determined,  and,  1  be- 
lieve, the  American  people  are  determined,  to 
avenge  these  injuries  —V''-'  the  English  have  iii- 
ihcteii  upon    us,    but  ever   yet   utoned    for. 

Why,  sir,    has  she   r  .e    brought   her  whole 

power  upon  us  to  cru.:n  wur  independence-  After 
the  revolutionary  war  she  let  us  alone  for  awhile, 
but  was  continually  violating  our  rights  as  a  nation, 
and  insulting  our  thig  on  evei-y  sea,  until  "forbear- 
ance ceased  to  be  a  virtue.''  Notwithstanding  all 
oftr  pacific  measures  and  reinonstri:ii 'cs  against 
these  violations,  her  aggression  only  lii;ranie  the 
more  common  and  insulting,  and  we  were  finally 
compelled  to  declare  war  against  her.  Again  she 
came  across  the  waters,  boastirti:  of  her  power  and 
will  to  annihilate  our  nationality,  and  though  she 
was  bravely  repelled,  she  managed  to  destroy  a  few 
small  villages,  and  rob  the  unfortunate  inhabitants — 
a  moda  of  warfare  the  most  ronlemfUible  at  all 
times,  and  particularly  unworthy  a  magnaniiuous 
nation.  These  acts  of  rapine  and  ]ilunder  she  has 
never  atoned  for.  And  now,  because,  forsooth,  we 
are  not  ready  to  give  up  territory  which  actual'y  be- 
longs to  us,  there  are  some  gentlemen  in  this 
House  who  undertake  to  say  that  we  are  doing  in- 
justice to  Great  Britain,  and  attempt  to  afiolo- 
gizc  for  our  course  on  this  floor.  Why,  sir,  the 
moment  that  Great  Britain  takes  any  hostile 
position  towards  this  country  a  third  time,  ten 
thousand  swords  will  leap  from  their  scabbards,  and 
a  million  of  rifles  will  be  taken  down  from  the  pegs 
on  which  ihey  hang,  and  a  million  of  freemen  will 


fearlessly  march  to  the  field  of  battle;  the  remem- 
brance of  wrongs  loo  long  unavenged,  and  the  high 
courage  which  freemen  fighting  tor  their  country 
alone  c/iti  know,  will  inspire  them  with  a  desire  for 
I  he  conflict,  and  a  determination  to  crush  the  perfid- 
ious and  insulting  foe. 

Mr.  Pknuletov  here  rose  and  said  that  if  the 
gentleman  would  give  him  leave,  he  would  ask  him 
now  to  place  him  (Mr.  P.)  in  a  proper  position  as 
to  the  remark  the  gentleman  had  made  about  a 
question  of  veracity  between  himself  and  the  gen- 
tleman; he  wished  the  gentleman  to  explain  that  it 
W.1S  not  a  question  of  veracity,  but  merely  one  of 
inference. 

Mr.  S.\wvER  continued.     I   did  not  intend   any 
liiing  personal.     I  will  rejieat  that   1  understood  the 
gentleman  to  say  that  England  had  atoned  or  apol- 
ogized for  every  outrage  she   had  committed   upon 
us.     I  say  she  has  not  done  so;  and   have  pointed 
out  instances    in    proof  of    this    assertion.     If  any 
•j;enilenian  can  show  that    England    has  atoned    for 
these  injuries,  I  will  yield  the  point.     She  has,  from 
the  very  earliest    settlement   of  our   forefathers    in 
this  country,  continually  made  us  tlie  objects  of  her 
oppressions  and  malevolence;  lier  demands  liave  al- 
ways been  extravagant  and  unreasonable,   and   her 
conduct  towards  us  imperious  and   illiberal.     Why, 
sir,  Eiiirland  claims  Canada,   but  siie  has  no  right  to 
it,  as    I    shall    show  before  I  get  tiirough    my   re- 
marks     I  started,  sir,  in   these  remarks    with    the 
proposition  that  we  have  an  exclusive   right  to  the 
whole  of  this  island  for  the  purpose   of  making  an 
I  experiment  of  the  adaptation   of  democratic   princi- 
I  pies  to  the    wants    and   happiness  of  man.     1  con- 
!  tend,  sir,  that  this  American  continent  belongs   ex- 
!  rlusively  to  the  people  of  the  United  States. 
I      We  were  a  colony   dependent  on    Great  Britain 
,  wlien  we  conquered    Canada    in    the  war  of  174'); 
I  this  we  did  before  we  were  an    independent   nation, 
',  and  all  the  rights  which  Great  Brilaui  now    has    iji 
'  Canada  were  obtained  through  us.  C.inada  was  con- 
fpiered  by  our  valor  and    our  means.     Even   Vir- 
jritiia    contributed    toil;  therefore    I   have  said  th.at 
I  Great  Britain  has  no  right  to  it,  and    that  it  belongs 
to  ou'-  peo|)le  who  originally  conquered   it  from  the 
FreiK'h  and  Indians.     I  will  put  a  case   to   the   gen- 
j  ticmaii  from  Mis.souri  [Mr.  Sims]  whi(.h  lie  will  un- 
derstands.  I  will  suppose  this  whole  continent  to  Ir: 
but  one  great  farm.     (Yes,  said  Mr.  Sims,  I  under- 
|St;ind    that    perfectly.)     I  propose,    ihcn,  that    thi.? 
farm    be     oc(uipied     only    by    American    farmer:>'. 
(1  subscribe  to  that,  said  Mr.  Sims.)     What  farmer 
of  common  sense  will  undertake  to  make  his  cropoi 
,  corn,  or  wheat,   or    what  no',   without    first  goine 
:  to    work     to     extirpate     the     weeds    and    brier.<r 
!  P.ut  here    we  have  Canada,  Nova  Scotia,  and  other 
I  British    possessions    around    us    which   are    tare.- 
among  our  wheat.     These  are  the  weeds  and  brier.? 
j  which  I  would  have  rooted  out.     They  prevent  the 
,  spread  of  our  j^rinciples,  and  circumscribe  the   bks- 
j  sings  of  our  govermental  experiment.  It  is  time  we 
I  were  rid  of  tliese  obstructions  to  the  progress  of  free 
institutions.     Their   baneful  and  corrupting  influ- 
ence is   but  too  sensibly  felt  and  too  monifestly  ev- 
ident to  escape  the  observation  of  even  the  most  su- 
perficial.    We  must  remove   this    influence.     Our 
people  are  increasing  in  numbers,  and  we  need   for 
our  enterprising  sons  and  daughters    every   foot  oi 
territory  thus  encumbered  by  the  tools  and  .slaves  of 
aristocratic  power. 

The  moment  that  England,  or  any  foreign  power 
opposed  to  our  system,  obtaina  a  foothold    on    our 


t 


if;  llie  renipm- 
(!,  and  the  high 
r  their  country 
viih  a  desire  for 
rush  tl>e  pertid- 

lid  that  if  the 
would  ask  him 
per  position  as 
made  about  a 
If  and  the  gen- 
explain  that  it 
merely   one    ot 

not  intend  any 
understood  the 
atoned  or  npol- 
ommitied  upon 
d  have  pointed 
jcrtion.  If  any 
has  atoned  for 
She  has,  from 
•  forefathers  in 
he  ohjects  of  her 
t'lTiands  have  al- 
)nab!e,  and  her 
illiberal.  Why, 
e  has  no  rig^ht  to 
lirough  my  re- 
narks  with  the 
ive  right  to  the 
i  of  making  an 
rnocratic  princi- 
of  man.  I  con- 
ent  belongs  ex- 
]  States. 

n    Great  Britain 
he  war  of  174'); 
^pendent   nation, 
II n  now    has    in 
Canada  was  con- 
ms.     liven    Vir- 
I  have  said  thiit 
that  it  belongs 
ered    it  from  the 
ase  to  the   gen- 
ii i(,h  lie  will  un- 
p  continent  to  !)c 
Sims,  I  under- 
then,  that   this 
lerican    farmer^.'. 
What  farmer 
make  his  cropoi 
u)ut    first  goina 
ds    and    briersf 
Scotia,  and  other 
which   are    tares 
weeds  and  briers 
hey  prevent  the 
inscribe  the   bles- 
nt.  It  is  time  we 
progress  of  free 
corrupting  influ- 
50  iTianifestly  ev- 
ven  the  most  su- 
influence.     Our 
md  we  need   for 
•s    every   foot  oi 
)ols  and  slaves  of 

ny  foreign  power 
bothold    on    our 


aoil  with  our  permission,  we  lend  a  club  to  br^ak 
©ur  own  heads  with.  What  would  Great  Britain 
say  if  we  got  a  foothold  on  her  island,  and  put 
our  institutions  into  operation  there?  We  have  ju.st 
as  good  a  right  to  do  it,  as  she  had  to  establish  her 
institutions  here.  Would  she  permit  such  a  thing 
for  a  moment?  No;  our  principles  are  so  difl'crcnt 
that  they  must  jiroduce  a  perpetual  collision,  and 
■we  must  drivi'.  out  from  our  land  all  governmenis 
founded  .ipon  aniagonistical  principles.  The  coun- 
try is  merely  large  enougli  to  enable  us  to  make  the 
republican  exjieriment  that  we  have  endeavored  to 
make. 

A  gentleman  from  Connecticut  [Mr.  Rock- 
WELi,]  has  told  U5  that  the  shipping  interest  will 
greatly  sutler  in  the  event  of  war;  and  he  read  to  us 
ieveral  letters  from  ship-owners  on  tlie  subject,  iul- 
▼isiiig  us  not  to  give  the  notice,  because  the  sliip- 
ping  interest  would  be  greatly  injured  by  it.  I  ad  I 
mit  his  position  to  be  true,  that  the  shipping  interest  i 
will,  in  one  sense,  be  subject  to  detriment.  I  also 
adnut  whattht^  gentleman  from  S.  C.  [Mr.  IJoi.mksI 
has  told  us  of  the  danger  of  the  destruction  of 
New  York,  and  Charleston,  and  other  cities  on  tin; 
Beabo.ird;  but  for  the  evil  that  these  gentlemen  sug- 
gest, I  will  propose  a  remedy,  and  it  is  one  that  was 
succeysfully  adojitcd  by  an  eminent  physician  in 
such  <;ases.  Wlu-n  Dr.  Jackson  undertook  the 
defence  of  New  Orleans,  a  certain  cotton  merchant 
came  to  him  and  said  that  his  balfs  of  cotton  had 
been  taken  forllie  purpose  cf  making  bieasi\<.orks 
for  the  defemr  cif  New  Orleans,  and  he  wanted  im- 
mediate paynieiu  or  restoration,  inasmuch  as  private 
property  couiii  not  be  taken  for  public  uses  with- 
out c.onipensation  General  .Tackson  heard  bis  com- 
plaint, and  told  him  he  would  do  what  was  right  in 
the  matter,  and  he  pointed  out  a  course  that  was 
proper  to  be  fiursued  in  such  eases.  He  sent  imme- 
diately for  aniiisket  and  twenlv  rounds  of  cartridges. 

The  poor  feleiw  hearing  this  order,  did  not  know 
wlint  was  to  be.ome  of  hun;  but  very  soon  Gener- 
al Jackson  put  the  musket  in  his  hand,  and  said — 
"Stand  there,  sir.  and  detend  your  cotton.''  Thus, 
Genera!  Jai  kson  compelled  him  to  stand  up  and  de- 
fend his  country.  Let  all  others,  who  are  interest- 
ed in  property,  defend  it  in  the  same  manner,  and 
there  is  liiile  danger  of  loss.  Why,  sir,  we  have 
men  enough  in  our  Atlantic  and  other  cities  to  de- 
fend succe.'^sfully  every  dime's  worth  of  property; 
and  wit  .  liiat  as  one  motive,  iuid  their  country's  wel- 
fare for  another,  who  will  not  bravely  meet  the 
■torm  ?  If  ihere  is  one  man,  the  .sooner  liis  property 
and  himself  aic  destroyed  the  better.  This  paltry 
question  of  dollars  and  cents  should  have  no  weight 
when  national  honor  and  national  territory  are  at 
stake.  Must  the  private  interest  of  a  few  individu- 
als preponderate  over  those  of  the  nation  at  large?  I 
ahall  regret  as  much  as  any  one  that  individual  lo.ss 
shall  arise  from  any  action  that  may  seem  necessary 
to  the  vindication  of  our  rights.  But,  have  we  not 
always  made  liberal  reparation  for  proiierty  de.stroy- 
ed  by  our  enemies  in  time  of  war?  The  whole  his- 
tory of  our  legislation  on  this  subject  proves  it.  Ap- 
plications for  relief  for  losses  thus  sustained  are  now 
of  daily  occurrence. 

I  will  now  pay  my  respect.'',  for  a  few  moments, 
to  the  gentleiviun  from  Virginia  who  last  spoke, [Mr. 
Lbakk.j  I  .ulmit  that  his  was  a  great  speech;  and  i 
admit  all  that  the  gentleman  claims  for  the  Old  Do- 
minion. But  times  change.  The  time  was  when 
Rome  was  the  proud  mistress  of  the  world;  litera- 
ture aiid  luarniiig  flouiished  within  her  walls;  the  pa- 


ges of  her  history  are  filled  with  the  name.»>  of  great 
men.  But,  alas!  where  is.she  now?  Fallen,  fallen,  fall- 
en I  Iler  greatness  has  defiarted  Those  who  gave 
her  power  and  fame,  and  maile  her  the  terror  and 
admiration  of  the  earth,  have  long  since  returned  to 
the  dust;  and  now  the  Roman  is  as  degraded  and  de- 
testable as  once  he  was  great  and  noble.  We  must 
now  speak  of  them  as  '-degenerate  sons  of  noble 
sires."  It  does  not  follow,  that  because  Virginia  has 
Ixen  the  mother  of  so  many  presidents  that  she  tnay 
not  become  barren,  or  give  birth  only  to  mi.serable 
dwarfs.  1  fear,  indeed,  that  the  .sjiirit  and  vigor  of 
her  womanhood  have  departed,  and  that  her  more 
recent  births  are  but  sorry  abortionii'. 

Another  gentleman  from  Virginia,  [Mr.  Bayly,] 
I  has  made  some  remarks,  to  which  I  will  briefly  re- 
I  ply.  That  gentleman,  in  the  early  part  of  the  session, 
j  was  charged  with  beinga  whig  by  a  gentleman  from 
I  Kentucky,  [Mr.  Davis.]  I  waa  disposed  to  resent 
i  the  charge  at  first,  as  being  unjustly  made  upon  one 
I  of  my  friends.  But  now,  I  am  inclined  to  agree  with 
I  the  gentleman  from  Kentucky,  though  at  first  I  be- 
lieved it  to  be  a  (diarge  made  for  the  purpo.se  of 
I  detracting  from  tiie  influence  and  standing  of  one  of 
'  my  politi  'al  friends. 

I  Speakin;;  now  of  Accomac:  it  is,  if  I  am  not  mis- 
I  taken,  the  district  formerly  refiresented  by  Mr. 
1  Wise.  Mr.  Wise  came  here  a  Jackson  man,  dyed 
!  in  the  woid.  lie  liecatne  after  a  while  anti-Jack- 
,  son, and  went  back  and  appealed  to  his  constituents, 
'  and  tliey  sent  him  here  again;  andatVr  a  little  while 

■  he  made  another  somerset,  and  became  a  Tyler 
i  mill);  still  his  con.stituenls,  turning  a  somerset 
i  with  liini,  endorsed  his  new  faith,  and  again  rc- 
1  turned  him  to  Congress.  The  genileman  v.ho  now 
!  represents  the  same  people,  has  also  made  a  wheel- 
I  about  or  two;  for  he  was  in  1840  an  advocate  of 
I '-Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too,"  and  made  whig 
j  speeches  in  my  Slate.  When  I  think  of  the  facil- 
1  ity  with  whicli  the  good  pc.ple  of  the  Accomac 
1  district  change  their  tunes  to  suit  new  songs — or, 
j  in  other  words,  change  their  priiKi|ues  to  suit  the 
I  ca|)rices  of  their  leaders — it  remmd.s  me  of  the  tree- 
I  frog,  which  in  my  country  is  very  plenty,  and  in- 
jstanlly  changes  the  color   of  it:;    skin  to  suit   that 

■  of  the  bark  of  the  tree  to  which  it  clings.  No 
j  doubt  these  Accomacers,  or  political  tree-frogs,  are 

properly  represented  on  this  floor.  Some  gentle- 
men here  have  charged  me,  and  my  friends  who 
act  with  me  on  this  question,  with  following  the 
lead  f  the  venerable  gentleman  from  Massachu- 
setts, [Mr.  Adams.]  1  tell  those  gentlemen  that  in 
making  this  charge  they  only  show  their  ignorance 
of  the  principles  on  which  the  true  democrat  acts. 
One  gentleman  remarked  that  compliments  from  a 
source  always  unfriendly  to  that  distinguished  mem- 
ber, [Mr.  Adams,]  could  not  be  considered  aa 
inaist^  But  I  will  say  to  that  gentleman,  that  in 
this  remark  he  has  shown  that  he  does  not  under- 
stand the  true  f;rinciples  of  democracy.  The  time 
was  when  the  democratic  party  considered  that  the 
gcmtleman  from  Massachusetts  [Mr.  Adams]  was 
acting  wrong,  and  they  censured  him  accordingly; 
but  thii  did  not  prevent  them  from  approving  of  hi.s 
course  when  he  acted  right.  But,  sir,  you  cannot 
point  to  a  single  instance  in  that  gentleman's  long 
public  career  wherein,  in  any  controversy  with  u 
foreign  jiower,  and  especially  with  England,  he  has 
not  t.iken  the  side  of  his  own  country.  Ten  thou- 
sand times,  sir,  would  I  rather  follow  the  lead  of 
that  gentleman,  than  follow  a  distinguished  leader 
iin  the  other  wing  of  the  Capitol,  who  was  once  a 


8 


Jn';i(son  man,  and  then  hcramn  a  l)ittRr  foe  to  the  Old 
Hero;  and  not  only  aided  in  passing  ii  rnsolntion 
of  rensurc  u(ion  him,  imt  nftorwiirds  reftisrd  to 
make  rcpariition  for  the  injury  nnd  injustice 
he  iiad  done  by  cxpnn-iinj.^  the  infamous  reso- 
lution from  the  journal.  Put  your  fin<rer,  sir,  on 
that  genllfiu.m,  .'.nd,  likf;  tiio  Irishman^  llfc,  lie 
iM  not  there.  IIi;  han  been  in  favor  of,  and  ai;iiin..t, 
t;vi;ry  adiiiinii'tratiDn.  I  do  nut  dor.bt  tiiil  the 
(jctiliemaii  from  Virginia,  aa  he  has  said,  has 
been  tlislinj;:;i;;!ind  I'y  many  hijrh  tniKts  from 
ihe  people  fiince  hcf.r.-t  nonv)  into  public  life,  but  it 
i.s  not  iiiipoKMble  lii.it  they  )'.uo  bfon  decei^rd;  for 
1  doubt  whether  t!ie  a;crm  of  dcmdcracy  \v:is  ever 
planted  in  hiir  When  he  'liiiir-^e,?  i;s  v.-itli  f(;l;o\v- 
Jiig  the  lead  of  t!;e  i;entienian  from  Mo.ssaiiai-ctts, 
or  of  any  other  rnati,  he  .speak.'J  for  eQ'ict — and  an 
cfTeet  not  \ovy  credualde  to  himself.  1  will  not  say 
of  him  as  the  (^-entlem  in  fr.im  Alai^saeiiuKeits  [Mr. 
Adams]  once  said  of  ;m  cniineiit  per.son  at  the  other 
end  ofilic  Ct'.pitol  tlK\t  after  expre.'-.'-ini:  sucli  senti- 
ments lie  iia-'  but  or  ••  more  fUep  to  take — and  that 
Y.'ill  carry  him  nver  to  the  enemy. 

1  h.'.-  e  no  do(;i)t  thu  the  IJraish  prcfis  v,'ill  pas.s 
hij;h  eiiromiu:tiS  on  the  centleman'H  speech,  a?  ihey 
did  on  that  of  a  diuin'^uislied  Honator  who  .spoke  in 
j'^^aeuil  Mail;  but  an  to  my  .--pecch,  and  that  of  my 
friend  from  Miss^oini,  [Mr.  Irh.Ms,]  nnd  a  hundred 
others,  they  will  receive  no  favors.  The  sen!ia;ents 
ihey  breathe,  the  views  they  advueate,  ;.nd  the  prin- 
ciples they  advance,  will  fnid  no  respon-je  fiom 
British  heart ;.  I  very  much  fear  that  British  inter- 
ests arc  not  without  advocates  and  friends  on  this 
Jloor;  and  I  fear  that  the  vote  upon  the  question  nov/ 
pending  will  show  the  number  to  be  far  j^reater  than 
would  seem  possible  in  an  American  Conj^ress.  1 
will  here  read  from  an  article  headed  "The  Ameri- 
can War  Mania,"  which  recently  appeared  in  the 
"Eoonomisf,"  an   English   paper,  ami  which  pur- 


ports to  be  an  extract  frcm  a  letter  written   by  f. 
American: 

•  If  I   co'ilil  tr.ke   the  ja.ne   lihuly  with  Sir  'lotn-rl  IV  < 
tliat  1  usc'il  to  do  v.'ith  my  |)c;;i;.i,ilfi'i(ii'!s  I. outs  (.aiisdowr 
iuiil  Moi.tt:,i'_'lf,   when  tiiey    wimi'  in  ollicf,    1    hlio.iM  vc;. 
fr.iiikly  t<.-li  liim  tli.it  Ihi;  policy  oi'  l",ii:,'l;iiiil,  ir,  oi.ier  to  -,..1' 
seivc  (K  ■icf,  i.s  lo   riinrii.i  i:cik":tly '|uit:t,  and  periTijt   ',., 
s  Misiljlc  ami  hoiii'st  poitioii  ol  ti.e  Ariiericiin  -'ec'ili!  to  K' ' 
ill  cijiii|.li  i-t  fhixk  trie  dislionrst  ari.l  n-cUlcss  puitioii  cl  , 
Korluiiati'ly  for  I'oth  couii.;!!  ;.   your  r.uliuintut  does  .; 
iiiuet  iiiiUl  1  iilimury,  oal  thi/rofori;  Sir  itotjcrt  IVel  cmr... 
lie  calli-i!  ii|ii)ii  foraiiy  ihiIjIIo  J'llanitioii  l«r  or  iigfti.i-t  li. 
I'ri'sifiLMit's  );.iSCona;l<;,  iiiitil   soiix-  d(  nioii'';ri;lioii  ii;is  I  • 
mnde  ill  i.'oiiijress  to  sh'-'.v  tlic  leeliiigs  of  ]>iuu(':j  in  to: 

huil-l!.':. 

•  of  the  V.  ickc^dacK';  of  siidi  a  wsr.  niidof  tli''  blessinti' 
.1  coiiiiiiiicii  pLiicc,  1  !i('i"i  not  rnliirLM-'.  as  thi'v  are   '^eli-'. 
ilfiit  to  c.vi'i-y  honijst  man;  but  !  wii)  say,  lliii  .should  ho::, 
jtii's  (j;iu\v  out  0;  swell  it!i  iiisi';ni;'.o.i.it  caii^c.  thi;  name';  • 
those  who  v.'ilfelly  oi;ca<i<i;i  it  w M  ho  tnnisiiii'tt''d  to  pes:- 
ily  wilh   no  cnviuhic!  iioiiioiiality.     'i'h(,'   nu'irhants,   t.,. 
ers,  siilp-owiitrs.  f-nd  lajiilalists  of  AiMeiiea  .ire  opjiose  . 
war;  the  peliti":iiis   au)iit.'  are  i.i  lavor   ol  i;.     It  is,  tli-  • 
for;-,  till'  iiioiv  to  he  iU'.-.irt d  tha'  iio  h.'.sty  step  on  tliw  | 
of  t'.u;  Iliitis!:  ,'cr.  er;;ni<;nt  >lioiili!  yivi;   her  foti;  any  atl  .u 
t  i;^e  over  !u:i'  I'liciids.  ' 

The  views  here  e:.;nre.':sed  by  one  who  calls  hir- 
self  ."in  "American,"''  i.vwever  ba.^e  and  discrust; 
to  the   true  jti-.triof.  are  not   so  very  dissimilar 
views  advanced   by  some  irentlcmen   on  this  fii.'^ 
But  I  hojie  for  the  honor  of  my  country  thac  '.I: 
feeling  is  co;.fmed  to  the  breasts  of  a  very  few. 

Nov.-,  sir,  in  order  to  carry  out  our  views,  and  ; 
this  whole  continent  of  Briti.sh  pov.er,  we  mv'st  ' 
tend  our  law.s  £:r.idu:illy  but  resolutely  over  : 
whole  country,  till  we  possess  all  that  nature  a' 
nature's  Grd  desii:;ne(!  for  us.  Let  our  covernm^ 
be  coextensive  with  the  continent,  and  the  soo;i 
the  better;  though  we  meet  with  wars  and  difnculti' 
they  can  be  overcome.  And  1,  for  one,  will  u^e  r 
be.4t  eflbrts  to  hand  down  to  posterity,  pure  nnd  i 
adulterated,  that  freedom  we  received  fVom  the 
iherts  of  the  revolution. 


i 


"A 


ti^tfr 


■er   written   by 


with  •iir  TJnln'rl  Pi  f 
I'ls  I.oiils  l.ansdowr 
illicc,  1  sliO'.iM  vt;;. 
\.n\i\,  in  oiiior  to  ','.;i 
ui(;t,  niiil  perrriit  ti. 
.'liciili  •■eC'pln  lo  i-.c 
fcklcss  [luitioii  ol  . 
r.u  liumt'iit  doo-i  .:i 
■  itobfit  J'i,'el  cmn.. 
nil  lor  cr  HL;Ri.i-t  ti. 
iioiiPtrsitioi  !i;is  !;■ 
s  ol'  piuUL's  in  be; 

iid  ol' tlii;  blessing- 
iis  tlicy  ;iro   ';ell -■. 
y,  thit  .-hould  ho;;. 
;  caiii-c.  'he  ni\;nfii  < 
ritiisii'ittcil  to  {>o-^;- 
li('   nn'rfi.i.Hits,   t.,. 
leiicii  .110  op;)0.sfc'. 
)r   ol  it.     It  is,  tli-" 
.sty  step  on  tlw  | 
her  fots  any  ail.^ 


)iie  wiio  cnlls  hir: 
3C   and   discru.sti 
very  dissimilar 
nen   on  this  fl(>r 
country  thu:  '.I: 
fa  very  few. 
our  views,  and  : 
'.ver,  we  inv.st  ' 
solutely   ovfr  t 
that  nature  m 
et  our  irovernmf 
nt,  and  the  soon 
nrsanddifncultif 
r  one,  will  use  r 
rity,  pure  and  i 
iived  fVoiTi  the  : 


iiw^ 


